An edited work featuring cases by leading social work professors and practitioners from around the country, this casebook provides macro practice case scenarios that reflect the dilemmas and challenges facing today's social workers. Designed to be provocative and instructive, these well-developed cases present problematic situations that encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, and participation in decision-making processes. Since there are no easy resolutions to the cases, they are ideal for class discussion and assignments. Each case consists of a preliminary discussion of theoretical and practice perspectives, in-depth references, the case narrative, and a concluding section of discussion questions and exercises. Based on real-world experiences, the cases reflect current trends such as managed care, total quality management, strategic planning, managing diverse workforces, disabilities, and more. Although all cases raise multiple issues, they are organized into three major sections: Organization Practice, Community Practice, and Policy Practice.

Table of Contents:
Each section includes “Introduction” and “References.” Section I. ORGANIZATIONAL PRACTICE. David P. Fauri, The Coffee Break: Supervisor-Employee Relationships at Risk. Cheryl Hyde, The Women's Co-Op: The Clash of Two Organizational Cultures. Steven McMurtry, Computerizing Child Welfare Services: A Cyberworld Fairy Tale. David Menafee, The Consultants: Reengineering Public Welfare. David Stoesz, The Interim Director: Leadership and Administrative Style. Diane Kaplan-Vinokur, John Van Camp, Joseph Tardella, and Patricia Miller, When Community Mental Health Meet Public Managed Care. Section II. COMMUNITY PRACTICE. Roger Lohmann, Lindblom County: How Diversity Influenced Philanthropic Sufficiency. Nancy MacDuff and Ellen Netting, Kingshaven and You: Managing Volunteers. Marsha Marley and Mary Rogge, Lee and the Amazing Multi-Faceted Community Needs Assessment. Jonathan Scherch, Riverton: Envisioning a Sustainable Community. Robert Wineburg, The Reverend and Me: Faith Communities and Public Welfare. Section III. POLICY PRACTICE. Stephen French Gilson and Beth Bader Gilson, The Underground Advocates: Legislative Advocacy for and with Consumers with Disabilities. Sharon Keigher, Carol's Value Dilemmas: Implementing Public Services for Disabled and Elderly Persons. Elizabeth Mulroy and Jon Matsuoka, The Native Hawaiian Children's Center: Changing Mission from Casework to Community Practice. Bejamina Menashe, Risa Sandler, and Steven Rathgab Smith, The Board of Directors: Survival Strategies for Ecological Outcomes.